Mike Olsaver introduced the program speakers today but before he did, he informed members who didn’t already know that he met his wife, Tiffany, one of today’s speakers, after one of the infamous Rotary shows. They are celebrating 11 years of marriage!
Tiffany Olsaver, kicked things off by saying that the topic she and others would be speaking on today was “Fluency Friends”, a new program started last year at Michener Elementary school. Michener, she said, happened to be one of 4 in the Adrian Public School system with the highest “at risk” population at that level. Michener currently has 300 students, 90% of whom are “at risk”. There is also much diversity at the school, Tiffany noted: 32% are Caucasian, 46% Hispanic, and 14% African American. Michener students come to school with many needs not the least of which is reading assistance which was the reason Tiffany and her colleagues on hand today were presenting this program soliciting our club’s help.
Fluency Friends, she said, utilizes adults who volunteer for a brief amount of time helping students read. Volunteers are matched up and trained by Kathy Sielsky, Michener’s Reading Specialist, should they wish to get involved. The school works around the volunteer’s schedule to find a workable time during the school day for them and will match them up with specific students. The skills volunteers would be working on with students, Tiffany said, are: the accuracy, speed and smoothness of their reading, all affecting their comprehension. Volunteering for such an important important role, she said, allows people to make a huge impact on these children’s lives as mentors and insure their success as adults in the future in this community.
Michener School’s Reading Specialist, Kathy Sielsky, reiterated what Tiffany said about how volunteers greatly enhance and fulfill the meaningful relationships developed with students. She assured members who wish to volunteer that she will “guide them every step of the way” by modeling what they need to do and explaining all the material she has on cue cards.
Teacher Rachel Perez related a moving experience she had with the father of one her students who admitted that he was “terrified” by not being able to help her read while at home because he couldn’t speak English. She asked members to consider the impact a Rotary member could have on this young girl’s life.
Tiffany and Mike’s daughter, Rosemary, who is in the third grade at Michener, reminded members that not all of the children she goes to school with have parents at home who can help them read and that it would be important for others to volunteer to do this.
So, should you wish to volunteer (1) you can select a time any day during the school week between 8:30am and 3:00pm to volunteer (2) you may choose a routine day and time each week to volunteer (3) you would spend up to 12-15 minutes each time you meet with a student and, if you have time, stay another 12-15 minutes to help another student from Kindergarten through 4th grade (you can even specify) read. Whatever fits your schedule. Background checks are mandatory. Forms were given out to those who thought they might like to volunteer. Contact information should you wish to get involved is as follows: Tiffany, Kathy and Rachel can be reached at 263-9002. Hope everyone can help!
President Mary, as we all know, is passionate about programs like this and encouraged everyone present today that if we really wanted to live by RI President Gary’s theme to “LIGHT UP ROTARY”, we should NOT hesitate to get involved!
President-Elect Rod stepped in for President Mary and read a letter from the Adult Daybreak organization thanking us for our donation to their cause.
Rod Hokenson mentioned that his grandson, Peter Hokenson, and his teammate Kian Evans were named co-MVP's of their high school soccer team in the Monroe, Michigan – down river region. They have been teammates since they were five years old!
Youth Exchange Student – Laura Jensen is this year’s exchange student sponsored by our club as well as the AM Club. Should any member wish to involve Laura in their own family gatherings or trips, they should contact Robin Hinman from the AM Club directly. Laura’s host family currently, Robin said, is not a Rotarian and that she will be in need of another host family in the future. If you would like to host her you also asked to contact Robin.
Rotary Christmas Party – The Murray’s have graciously agreed to host this year’s party on Sunday, December 7th from 3-6pm.
Annual Bell Ringing to Benefit the Salvation Army – Kevin said that there will be two locations this year and they will be indoors! The sheet is full – thanks to all volunteers to serve on Friday, December 5th at the entrance to the Adrian Mall! Here’s the list and times:
10am-11am – Joe Satterelli
11am-12pm – Chip Moore
12pm-1pm – Steve Benz
1pm-2pm – Brent Mercer
2pm-3pm – Ray Maxe
3pm-4pm – Greg Dumars
4pm-5pm – Jim Philp
5pm-6pm – Masahiro Kojima
6pm-7pm – Theresa Soto
7pm-8pm – Rod Hokenson
IMPORTANT: The First shift person (Joe) is asked to pick up the bells and buckets from the Salvation Army office. The last shift person (Rod H.) will need to return the bucket, sign and bells to the Salvation Army office after 8pm.
Christmas Wreath Sale - We ordered 425 which includes 50 for the Tecumseh Rotary Club's sale. Congratulations! Wreaths will arrive before Thanksgiving.
Christmas Tree Project - The annual Christmas Tree Project in conjunction with the Youth Community Outreach group at Siena Heights University will begin about the same time and Greg Adams and Steve Benz agreed to co-chair this important project. This group will work half the time and club members will work the other have over the duration of the project – 2 weeks and 2 weekends. The proceeds collected will be split between the two groups as it has been in the past.
Joint Kiwanis/Rotary Joint Luncheon – Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 26 at 12 noon hosted this year by the Kiwanians at LCS. Get ready to buy some cheese!! THERE WILL NO MEETING ON THANKSGIVING DAY. If you are planning to attend, we need to know since we need to know soon.
District Conference – REMEMBER: Next year’s District Conference will be at the Grand Traverse Resort from April 30 – May 3, 2015.
Dates to Remember
November 13-15 – R.Y.L.A. Annual Conference at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. More info to come.
December 5 – Comstock Christmas Riverwalk - Show your holiday spirit by decorating a Christmas Tree to display in Comstock Park for the holidays! President Mary announced that the Interclub Council will be purchasing and decorating one of the 15 trees available. Clubs that are members of the council are: Civitan, Rotary Noon and AM, Lions Noon and AM and the YMCA. If your organization would like to purchase one as well simply contact Mary or Mark Murray. President Mary would like your feedback as to whether or not the club should purchase and decorate a tree ourselves. Please let her know what you think.
·Cost Per Tree: $50 (includes lights; tree proceeds benefit Civitan & Rotary)
·How It Works: Trees will be delivered and set up (including lights), to Comstock Park by December 2. All you have to do is show Adrian your holiday spirit by decorating your tree
with your family, friends and coworkers by Friday, December 5 at 5pm.
·Tree Lighting Ceremony: Join us during December’s Adrian First Friday at 7:30pm when all of the trees will turn on! Trees will be displayed beginning December 5.
December 31 –New Year’s Eve Gala Celebration – We need every Rotarian's involvement!!!! Everyone also needs to do their share selling tickets and getting sponsorships. Mark suggested that each of us take the very professionally developed and colorful promo cards and put them on the dashboards of our cars. He stressed that the only people that will attend this year’s event (2nd annual) will be the people WE ASK personally to attend. Green flyers were distributed listing potential sponsors this year. Rod Pender will lead the group soliciting sponsors while Kevin Keller will be in charge of ticket sales. Everyone also needs to do their share selling tickets and getting sponsorships. Remember to take the very colorful promo cards and put them on the dashboards of our cars.
Brett Mercer announced that his firm, Donna Baker & Associates will be contributing $25. Jim Philp, who said he would not be able to attend, contributed $100. Chuck Chase heard back from Clift Pontiac who will be contributing $500.
GUESTS:Bill Gross and Chad Gurica guests of Yours Truly; Barry Rienink, guest of Mark Murray; Chris Howard, guest of Jim Philp; Junior Rotarian, Zack.